Man straddling lion with dog provides “Ah- ha” moment
Experiencing an "Ah-ha" moment can be unique and special for each of us – my moment in Cambridge yesterday gave me a startling vision of clarity.
What does the image of Cambridge, England conjure up for you? Perhaps an ancient seat of learning where tradition and the preservation of centuries of art and antiquities is paramount?
With my meetings finished for the day, I was walking past these ornamental lions guarding the entrance to the Fitzwilliam Museum and glanced up to see a man and his dog snugly reclined against the flanks of these beasts.
Both man and dog looked so comfortable and in the “zone” enjoying a quiet moment of introspection getting away from it all. There they were, perched on an ancient work of art 2 metres high holding a finger up at the establishment.
We made eye contact. Smiled at each other. I felt drawn into their subterfuge, nodded towards them and said “nice dog” before carrying on.
Now in my experience, when an "Ah-ha" moment occurs, it is usually accompanied with satisfaction, joy, or a sense of accomplishment. And this is what it did for me.
I had been wandering along Trumpington Street frustrated by my lack of purpose – feeling I should have had a plan on how to spend my afternoon productively. Yet this startling vision of a man and his dog taking time out to just “be” showed me what can be achieved by standing back and watching the world go by.
Look for those special moments; they are wonderful and will be remembered for a long time.
Katherine Wiid, founder of Recrion, is a Career Management Coach and Behavioural Specialist. Helping you to move away from uncertainty towards clarity in your working life. Telephone 01780 484910.
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Comments on Man straddling lion with dog provides “Ah- ha” moment
The 'busyness' of life sucks us continuously onto its hamster wheel and we are often left pedaling furiously – this can be towards a particular goal in mind, but it can also be with a certain aimlessness and lack of true purpose and direction. Our performance is often compromised with unnecessary energy spent on 'keeping busy' for appearances or conscience's sake. Taking time to 'smell the roses' is so often not considered a priority in today's hectic and consumer society, but there is so much reward in enjoying the small, ordinary things. We have just experienced two days of endless rain – over 200ml – which has caused flooding and chaos in many areas. Today, the sun has shone brightly, and yet in the distance, a 'rainbird' or Burchell's Coucal, has been calling that more heavy rain is on it's way. I have been made aware yet again, out here in Africa, of the amazing warnings and reminders nature prompts us with – if we take time to stop and listen!
Beth you are right – keeping busy for the sake of it is is a way of avoiding dealing with issues. I love your analogy of stopping to listen to the calls of nature in Africa!
What a lovely Ah-ha moment and comment from Beth. Yes – sometimes just stopping and getting off the hamster wheel gives us time to allow ourselves to stop and listen. Listen to what is really going on for ourselves. Quite often I have my ah-ha moments first thing in the morning – the reason why, – I am relaxed and after a good night's sleep, have time to allow my unconscious to communicate to my conscious – we already have the answers to many of our issues – it's just that we don't stop and listen. I think I will just sit here and refect on special moments with a nice cup of tea – thank you
And isn't that connected smile with a complete stranger wonderful.
I agree, sometimes we are too distracted to notice beauty around us. Whilst cycling to work I recently spotted a green house on the corner with a small red butterfly painted on the wall. I don't know when the butterfly appeared – did I notice it the first day or had I been oblivious for some time? But now I know its there, I always look and smile as I go past.
For those who savour these little moments and speak French, I recommend a little book called "La premiere gorgée de biere et autres plaisirs miniscules" by Philippe Delerm. (Sorry, I don't know if there is an English edition.) An excellent reminder of how to savour life's small pleasures.